Media

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Doctor

Canada

"The medical device you always dreamed of"

Source: Montreal Gazette

Published: 27 Sep 2006

Category: Diagnostic Test

Rating: (1½ stars)

what they said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

Michael Solomita was sold the first time he set eyes on the compact device that serves as a home sleep-apnea test.
He wanted the rights for Canada and got them, after eight months of negotiation.
Now, he's banking on it becoming a sales engine for the family business, Roxon Medi-Tech Ltd., a St. Leonard-based medical-equipment distributor started 31 years ago by his father, Vincent....

how did it rate? (more information)

Criteria	Rating
Total Score	2 of 9
Availability of Test	Satisfactory
Novelty of Test	Not Satisfactory
Diagnostic Options	Satisfactory
Disease Mongering	Not Satisfactory
Evidence	Not Satisfactory
Quantification of Diagnostic Accuracy/Benefits	Not Satisfactory
Costs of Testing	Not Satisfactory
Harms of Testing	Not Satisfactory
Sources of Information	Not Satisfactory
Relies on Press Release	Not Applicable

what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

Unfortunately this story reads as more of a P.R. story than a healthcare story
Among the chief flaws is that it does not mention whether other similar tests exist.
There is no information at all on how accurate the test is compared to the sleep lab standard.

And it does not get into any detail on why you would want to treat sleep apnea in the first place so may be accused of disease mongering.

We wonder whether it may be a violation of the Canada Health Act to sell a sleep apnea test privately when it is available in the public system?

public forum

(11 Jun 2009) Robert Kelly writes,

"I hate to say I'm an old pro at sleep apnoea but 15 years ago I was diagnosed, had and the surgery. My next sleep study confirmed I was clear but now I have gained my 150 lbs. back and here I go again!
I always assumed that it was a real problem with real health risks but I can't say for sure. I just know that it has returned and I'm dozy, depressed can't focus and have no energy but I'm 60 now and 360 lbs again.
It would be great if the product worked but the doctor I have now knows nothing and I'm even having trouble getting him to book a sleep study and refer me to a specialist."

(25 Apr 2007) markbigg writes,

"Hi, nice site!
The site's very professional! Keep up the good work!"

Media Doctor response,

"thanks for the feedback."

(06 Nov 2006) Mike Atimolos writes,

"I agree, the story does read like a PR piece, but it was published in the Montreal Gazette Business Section, not the Health Section.

The product is the only one of it's kind in existence, and all the clinical trials can be seen at their corporate website www.sleepstripcanada.ca They show that the $50 SleepStrip is as accurate as a $60,000 PSG system.

The product also doesn't treat Sleep Apnea, it only screens for it. For that reason, it cannot be accused of Disease mongering. In fact, the device is being looked at by many provincial healthcare facilities as a way to reduce wait times by pre-screening before sending the patients for a full blown sleep study.

As for being in violation with Health Canada, that is ridiculous. The product is registered with Health Canada, and serves the same purpose as a home pregnancy or cholesterol test.

I really believe that you need to reevaluate your ranking of this article

regards,

Mik Atimolos"

Media Doctor response,

"Can a device which screens for something which may or may not be a worrying condition contribute to disease mongering? That's probably debatable--and there's no definitive answer but you could agree there may be a tendency to over market the nature of the condition in order to sell more tests.
Is there good evidence that the Sleepstrip is as good as the PSG system? If so, then it would have been good to have this evidence presented in the article.
I think your point about whether this violates the Canada Health Act (which is what I think the reviewer meant) is a good one and that comment does seem out of line when you consider other home tests. We'll take another look at reevaluating this story. Thank you for your input."

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